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Introduction

A dividend is a distribution of profit by a company to its shareholders.

A dividend is not only a payment in cash. It can be the issue of new shares in exchange for forfeiting the right to a cash payment (a stock dividend). For more detail, see the Non-cash dividends guidance note.

This guidance note deals with cash dividends from UK resident companies. For more on dividends from non-UK resident companies, see the Foreign dividends guidance note.

The taxation of dividends is discussed in the Taxation of dividend income guidance note.

Cash dividends from UK resident companies

Cash dividends paid by UK companies on or after 6 April 2016 have no dividend tax credit attached, meaning the amount received is the amount which is taxable.

The company should issue the shareholder with a dividend voucher showing the number of shares held by the shareholder, the dividend paid and the date of payment.

The amount reported in box 4 of the main tax return is the total dividends received from UK resident companies in the tax year